Once again, Bruuuuuuuce

The 49ers will go into the Rams game with the same philosophy defensively as last time, which is to not give up anything cheap. When it was still a game in the first half of the last matchup, the Rams were able to shred the 49ers for ample running yards, and that might be more of a problem for the 49ers with Steven Jackson back in the lineup.

The Rams will be different with left tackle Orlando Pace, cornerback Ron Bartell and Jackson scheduled to play. However, the 49ers are a different team as well from the last time. I watched the first half of the last Rams-49ers game, and the 49ers are playing better defensively than they did then. Their run fits are better and nose guard Aubrayo Franklin has become more of a factor by shooting gaps instead of trying to control two gaps. The Rams’ guard-center-guard trio, however, is pretty good, particularly Richie Incognito.

Keeping the Rams in third-and-long will be a crucial factor. St. Louis is able to move the ball with 3rd-and-4 yards or better, but struggle with longer yardage. Offensively, they’ll try to keep the 49ers off balance by going no huddle at times. Also if the Rams get down between the 49ers 30- and 20-yardlines, St. Louis likes to run a double-post pattern from one side into the end zone.

Offensively, the 49ers should have plenty of opportunities. The Rams have given up over 100 plays of 20 or more yards, and defensive head coach Jim Haslett likes to play an aggressive style with his cornerbacks in press coverage often. The 49ers exploited that for six plays of 20 or more yards in the first half of the last match up, when they took a 35-3 lead into halftime.

It was Shaun Hill’s best half, and he hit two long improvisational plays to running backs for long gainers that set up touchdowns. One to DeShaun Foster and the second to Michael Robinson just before the half. The Rams linebackers don’t cover well, which could open up opportunities for the running backs and tight ends. Delanie Walker missed the last Rams’ game with an injury and could be a featured player in this game.

It will be interesting to see how the Rams attack Isaac Bruce. Obviously, they don’t want the humiliation of Bruce getting the 60 yards needed to be the second most prolific receiver in terms of yards in league history next to Jerry Rice. Bruce also needs six catches to get to 1,000 for his career. With much attention paid to Bruce, Bryant Johnson and Jason Hill, who were productive last time, could see some passes.

The return of Allen Rossum is opportune. Out of the last three games with an ankle injury, he set up two scores in the first half with a long punt return and a robust kickoff return the last time. Rossum should be even quicker on the Edward Jones Dome turf.

In the last game, the 49ers used several different fronts on third down to apply pressure, even going with a defensive front without a down lineman. The Rams have allowed only two sacks in the last three games, so the 49ers might have to get creative again to drum up pressure.

MARTZ MACHINATIONS: On Thursday, Mike Martz was asked about the communication on the last offensive play in Miami when the formation was reversed and Shaun Hill was sacked on 4th-and-10 from the Dolphins’ 20. With all the noise and confusion, Hill only got part of the play, so he sent two receivers to his right and three to the left.

Presumably, if Hill had sent three to the right, that would have slowed down Joey Porter, who burned off the right side, past tackle Barry Sims, to sack Hill.

Certainly, formations get reversed in the hurly-burly of a two-minute drill. The 10-yard game-winning pass from Joe Montana to John Taylor in Super Bowl XXIII was out of reversed a formation. Getting back to the last week’s game, the main problem was the decision to go with a five-receiver formation in the first place.

Even if there were three receivers to the right, none of them would have helped out on Porter. The 49ers ran the same formation earlier in the quarter, this time with three to the right and two the left, and nobody helped Sims out on Porter. That play also resulted in a sack.

Sims was isolated on Porter for much of the fourth quarter and he stopped him every time, which gave Martz a false sense of security. But on the most important play of the game, a coach can’t put the opposition’s best player in a position to beat you, and that’s what Martz did.

NOTES: Right tackle Adam Snyder (ankle) practiced Thursday and should start the game. … I forgot one award this week, The Thomas Herrion Award, which is given to the free agent or rookie who beats the odds to make the team. It went to wide receiver Dominique Zeigler. Herrion, a popular free-agent tackle, died in the 49ers locker room of heart failure in the summer of 2005 after an exhibition game in Denver. … Long snapper Brian Jennings, a unique personality, has a blog on yardbarker.com. Here’s his first offering